social infrastructure

stadiums, arenas, exposition and convention centers

Professional sports and professional entertainment performances are an important cultural component in many modern societies.  Given the popularity of these events and their ability to draw large local and regional (and in many cases, national and international) crowds, they in many cases important economic drivers in the local and regional economies.  Providing venues for these sporting and entertainment events which may need to hold tens of thousands of spectators is a capital-intensive undertaking.  The mix between public and private ownership and/or operations and maintenance of each category of arts and cultural infrastructure facility varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.  Additionally, many cities around the world are in competition to attract major expositions, trade fairs and conventions.  In order to attract professional sports teams, major expositions and conventions, both public and private sector stakeholders need to undertake massive capital investments in stadiums, arenas, exposition and convention centers as well as the public and private infrastructure around these facilities.

In many cases, major professional sports teams and entertainers as well as trade fare, exposition and convention organizers require not only adequate capacity, safe, modern and well-maintained venues for their event, but they are also require adequate transport infrastructure and sufficient media access and proximate lodging, dining, entertainment and shopping  opportunities for sports fans, spectators, and exposition, trade show and convention participants.  Creating such a coordinated regional development plan and capital investment and management program between public and private stakeholders is a "natural public private partnership" opportunity.  The levels of private and public sector participation in such projects (including auxiliary infrastructure) varies by jurisdiction.

To be clear, the topic of "stadiums, arenas, exposition and convention center infrastructure" does not include any organization or operational element of any sporting or entertainment event, or exposition, trade show or convention which occur within the respective facilities.  "Stadiums, arenas, exposition and convention center infrastructure" involves the planning, design, financing, operations and maintenance of the stadiums, arenas, exposition and convention centers and the auxiliary buildings, facilities and assets related to those facilities. Auxiliary assets related to stadiums, arenas, exposition and convention centers may include interior and exterior furnishings; parking facilities; heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) systems; administrative and maintenance facilities; restricted entry, security and surveillance systems and facilities; media access facilities; ticketed entry systems and facilities; back-up emergency power generation stations; medical, police and fire facilities; food/dining and retail shop facilities; maintained garden and landscape facilities.  The functional design, aesthetics, operations and maintenance of each type of stadium, arena, exposition or convention center needs to accommodate the exact types of events that occur within the respective type of facility.  

DCS experts can assist both public and private sector clients in evaluating, planning, financing, developing, constructing, operating and managing all types of stadium, arena, exposition and convention center infrastructure assets.

In the stadium, arena, exposition and convention center infrastructure segment, DCS experts can add significant value through application of innovative technologies and processes, and public-private partnerships.  Our advisory services help our clients align the capabilities of private sector capital, innovation, "know-how", efficiencies, life-cycle operational and maintenance discipline, and management resources with the societal objectives of providing access to highly functional, high-quality and well-maintained stadium, arena, exposition and convention center facilities.  Our experts also have significant experience and competence in delivering social infrastructure assets under various development, financing, operating and ownership models, including Design-Build (D-B), Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC), Design-Build-Finance (DBF), Operations & Maintenance (O&M), Design-Build-Transfer (DBT), Design-Build-Operate-Transfer (DBOT), Design-Build-Operate-Maintain (DBOM), Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM), Design-Build-Own-Operate (DBOO), Design-Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (DBOOT), and similar variations.  We also have significant experience advising on public-private partnership (P3) within the infrastructure/social infrastructure space.  Our broad and global experience also includes all forms of P3 models, under a regulated or deregulated user fee regimes, long-term availability payment, user-fee and hybrid concession and/or lease transactions.

Within the stadium, arena, exposition and convention center infrastructure segment DCS experts maintain relationships with related project consultants and participants including: both international and local legal advisors; technical, engineering and environmental/social advisors, economic/market consultants; contractors, vendors and technology providers; strategic and financial equity sponsors; lenders (including commercial lenders, international/development financial institutions (IFIs/DFIs), Export Credit Agencies and Export-Import Banks (ECA/Ex-IMs), institutional lenders, bond funds and investment banks) and credit rating agencies (if applicable).  We are always prepared and highly experienced in taking on a lead transaction advisory or project/program management role where we coordinate and manage (in some cases, procure and retain via subcontract) various technical, legal and other consultants required for the project.  On behalf of our clients we are also prepared and accustomed to leading and concluding negotiations with governmental/public sector or equity sponsors, contractors and venders, lenders, rating agencies and regulators, as may be relevant for a given project.

In many client cases, there may also be a significant nexus between stadium, arena, exposition and convention center infrastructure facilities and other sectors that we specialize in, such as technology and telecommunications (broadband and satellite media access facilities, 5G connectivity, AI/AR features);  transportation (parking facilities and systems, rail, bus, shuttle and urban/regional mobility systems), social infrastructure (complimentary education; arts & cultural facilities; parks & recreational facilities); real estate (mixed-use, shared-use, transit-oriented development), hospitality & tourism and others, as relevant.  We are prepared to bring our complementary expertise in these other sectors to our stadium, arena, exposition and convention center sector clients, as their specific project may benefit.  There may be many collaborative partnership opportunities between diverse companies and public and private service providers, who may also have synergistic objectives and opportunities related to stadium, arena, exposition and convention center facility infrastructure assets and systems.  We can help our clients expand the horizons of their project and analyze and understand synergistic economic and commercial impacts related to stadium, arena, exposition and convention center infrastructure assets and services.  This will help forge potential new innovative partnerships with both private and public sector parties, where significant added-value can be realized.  

Please click on the below links to learn more about the specific services related to the stadium, arena, exposition and convention center facility infrastructure segment that DCS experts can offer:​

• ​Transaction Advisory
• Project/Program Management
• Strategic Planning
• Feasibility Studies
• Debt and Equity Capital Raising
• Contract Drafting & Negotiation
• Financial Modeling, Review and Audit
• Business and Asset Valuation​
• Tender Management: RFEI/RFQ/RFP
• Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory
• Workouts and Restructuring​
• Corporate Governance
• Training and Capacity Building

DCS focuses on providing the above services in the stadium, arena, exposition and convention center facility infrastructure sector to the following categories of clients:

• Developers/Sponsors/Concessionaires
• Investors
• Corporations
• Governments/Governmental Entities
• Contractors/Vendors
• Utilities
• Lenders
• Investment Banks
• International Agencies
• International Finance Institutions

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